Las Vegas Raiders–Los Angeles Rams Trade History

Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders received Hall of Fame tackle Bob Brown, who played 34 games with 32 starts in Oakland, plus the two Rams-origin 1972 choices strongly traced to John Vella and Ray Jamieson; Vella added 84 Raiders games and 48 starts and started on the Super Bowl XI champion. The return earns a A-, versus B- for Los Angeles/Cleveland/St. Louis Rams, with a hindsight verdict of Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders Win. Concrete team-specific production and downstream results drive the grade.

Los Angeles sent Otis Sistrunk and a fourth-round pick to Oakland for a third-round pick in 1972. The Rams gained better draft position, but Sistrunk became a cornerstone of the Raiders' defensive front, making a Pro Bowl and helping Oakland win Super Bowl XI. That long, high-level career value overwhelms the modest pick upgrade Los Angeles received.

The Raiders acquired linebacker Jim Purnell from the Rams, but Purnell's NFL playing career had already ended after the 1972 season. He therefore provided no regular-season return for the Raiders after the transaction. Because the incoming veteran did not create usable football value and the Rams' draft return was similarly unproductive, a conservative C- grade fits the Raiders' side of this minor exchange.

Oakland acquired cornerback Monte Jackson and received a proven starter who remained useful through the Raiders’ Super Bowl XV season. That was meaningful short-term value, but the price was three draft choices, and Los Angeles ultimately found far more durable value in the package, especially with the selection that became standout cornerback LeRoy Irvin.

Las Vegas Raiders received Dwayne O'Steen in the deal with Los Angeles Rams. O'Steen played 31 Raiders games with 12 starts and four interceptions across 1980 and 1981. Oakland received two seasons of meaningful secondary depth and starting work. That outcome supports a B+ for Las Vegas Raiders. The Las Vegas Raiders Win verdict weighs documented games, starts, production and connected draft value.

The player-for-player portion immediately broke down when Pat Thomas failed the Raiders' physical and never played for them. Monte Jackson nevertheless remained with the Rams and appeared in five 1983 games with one start and 11 tackles; the conditional seventh-rounder was never exercised. Los Angeles therefore received the only regular-season value, producing a modest C-to-D Rams win.

The Raiders acquired running back Greg Bell from the Rams on June 19, 1990, for a 1991 fourth-round pick that became No. 107, Robert Bailey. Bell had just posted consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons in Los Angeles but produced only 164 rushing yards in six games for the Raiders. Bailey became a multi-year NFL defensive back, giving the Rams the stronger long-term return.

Las Vegas Raiders received conditional draft pick (not exercised) from Los Angeles Rams in the 1993-08-24 trade. Los Angeles acquired Sam Graddy on a condition tied to his making the Rams. Los Angeles Rams's return was Sam Graddy. Because Graddy did not make the roster, the conditional Raiders draft pick was not exercised; the Raiders received no realized pick. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.

Oakland received the 2000 seventh-round choice later identified as No. 238 and subsequently moved the selection. The Raiders preserved a small future asset, but they did not realize an on-field return from the transaction comparable to the depth Paul Justin provided St. Louis. That outcome supports a C grade for Las Vegas Raiders within the final Los Angeles Rams Win verdict.

Oakland acquired veteran tight end Roland Williams from St. Louis for the 123rd selection in the 2001 draft. Williams provided established NFL depth to a contender. The Rams immediately combined pick No. 123 with No. 54 in a separate trade for Aeneas Williams, an eight-time Pro Bowl defensive back who became an important part of their 2001 NFC championship defense.

Oakland sent the Rams picks No. 89 and No. 217 to move up two spots to No. 87 and select edge rusher Arden Key. The Raiders moved up two spots for Arden Key, who showed pass-rush flashes but never established himself as a long-term Oakland starter. The Rams moved back and selected Joseph Noteboom, who stayed with the organization for years as a starter and versatile offensive lineman, while the extra sixth-round selection also retained trade value. Los Angeles got the more durable return.

Los Angeles moved up 11 spots in the fifth round on April 30, 2022, sending Las Vegas picks No. 175 and No. 238 for No. 164. The Rams selected Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams. Through Week 2 of 2026, Williams had played 57 games with 46 starts, rushing for 3,960 yards and 37 touchdowns while adding 116 catches for 781 yards and nine receiving scores. He surpassed 1,100 rushing yards in each season from 2023 through 2025.